Mail-pouch



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARSH ALL SMITH, 0F ST. LOUIS, MlSSOURI.

MAE-POUCH,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,862. dated May 1T,1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, MARSHALL SMITH, ot

the city and county of St. Louis, and State Y to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon and made toform a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is the production of mail pouches whichwill be much more convenient and far better adapted to the use requiredof them than any device for a like purpose now known in the mailservice, and which at the same time will be more economical than theordinary mail-bags in common use; and the nature ot my invention relatesfirst to the use of sliding or adjustable partitions.

In reference to thedrawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved mailpouch, represented as being open and a part of the frontside removed in order to show clearly the construction and arrangementot' the sliding partitions. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pouch asclosed and secured ready for transportation, and Fig. 3 isa transversesectional view taken at a point indicated by the red line .fr

A represents the body of the pouch, and B the lid or cover, which willbe of suitable material, solid sole-leather being preferred.

The lid B is constructed with the strong metallic frame m m k h, and isattached to the pouch by the broad hinge piece p, which may be a part ofthe lid and riveted or otherwise iirmly secured to the back edge of thebottom ot' the pouch, as seen in Fig. 3. By this method of constructingand attaching the lid or cover the pouch is at onco secured againstdepredation by prying up the lid, the pouch being inclosed and envelopedin the strong metallic frame of the lid; but when opened the cover fallsaway from the pouch, as seen in Fig. 1, and d oes not in any wayinconvenience the person packing or unpacking its contents.

. c represents a series of sliding or adjustable partitions, which willbe arranged within the pouch substantially as shown in Fig. l. They maybe formed of suitable sheet met-al, and for additional support andstrength their ends may be turned over small metallic rods. Suitablerecesses will be formed in the ends of said partitions, which will beadapted to receive the straps d d. The said straps d will be of suitablematerial, strips of sheet metal being preferred, and they will besecured to the body of the pouch, at or near the ends thereof, in suchmanner as to be adapted lo support and sustain the said partitions intheir proper vertical positions, and at the same time permit them to beeasily adjusted or moved, as the nature of the service may require. Itis desirable that the said straps d should be secured in such manner asto be easily detachable, in order to permit the convenient removal ofsaid partitions, if desired. Portions of the partitions may be cut out,as represented, to facilitate the removing oi' letters.

f represents a follower, which may be of sheet metal somewhat heavierand thicker than the partitions. g is a strap, which will be secured atone end of the pouch, and is adapted to encompass the contained matterof the pouch and secure the same rigidly in a compact form, as will beat once fully understood by reference to the drawings.

The pouches will have as many sliding partitions as there a're ofces ormail-stations on the line of the way-route upon which such pouches maybe employed; and these partitions will be labeled permanently in theproper order of the ofces upon the line, and also under the head of eachoffice on the line, with the names of all oftices supplied therefrom,respectively. The matter for these offices will be placed between theproper partitions, separated only by the post-bills, which will befolded face out over the top of the first letter of each package in suchmanner that the name of the office for which theletters are intended canbe easily read across the package. The written heading of the post-billswill in this manner answer every purpose of the ordinary directions uponthe wrappergfand in case the use of post-bills should be dispensed withby the Post Office Department colored cards could be used to separatethe packages.

It will now be readily seen that the partitions c may be easily adjustedto the spaces required for the different packages of mail matter to beforwarded in the pouch, and that the mass may be secured by means of thestrap g and followerfin such manner as to prevent any Wearin g or chan gof the contained letters, so that they will arrive at their destinationin as perfect order as when mailed.

It is well understood that much time and labor are involved in theopening and closing of mail bags or pouches upon which straps andstaples are employed as means of fastening. To overcome this objectionso far as may be possible, and at the same time to preserve intact allthe other advantages of my improved pouch, it is first necessary torender the edges of the lid B as rigid and firm as possible, duereference being had to weight, economy,

Aand durability. To accomplish this, a strip of suitable metal, h, isfirmly riveted to the laps of the lid, near the edges thereof, by meansof which the front lap of the lid will be rendered sufficiently rigidand the front corners suitably strengthened and stiffened. The rear endsof the end laps will be secured by means of angle-irons 7c 7c, whichwill be permanently riveted to the said laps and to the body of the lid,as clearly shown in Fig. L'

Upon the front of the lid B, at or near the Acenter thereof, andthoroughly secured by means of a suitable staple, will be arranged ametal bar, a, in the lower end of which will be made a slot, throughwhich the staple r of the body of the pouch may be made to pass when itmay be desired to close and lock the pouch. By means of the aforesaiddevices the laps of the lid are secured rml y in their proper places insuch manner that violence alone will enable an unauthorized person toreach the contents of the pouch, and at the same time the objectionablestraps and numerous staples are entirely dispensed with.

If found necessary or desirable, a band ot metal may be riveted to thebody of the pouch near the edges of its sides.

The drawings herewith presented represent a mail-pouch formed with onecompartment only; but it will be readily understood that the improvementherein set forth is equally adapted to pouches of various sizes and tothose having two or more compartments.

It is obvious that the securing hasp or bar n may be varied in itsconstruction and arrangement and still produce the same desirableresult-as, for instance, the said bar may be attached to the body of thepouch instead of the lid, or one or more links may be employed in placeof a solid bar. I do not therefore confine myself to the particularconstruction or arrangement of the said device. A

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In combination with a mail pouch,the adjustable partitions ce c,substantially as described, for the purpose set forth. e

2. In combination with a mail-pouch, a lid or cover provided with ametallic frame, m m 7c lz, for the purpose of giving strength to thesaid pouch and security to its contents, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a mail-pouch, the broad hinge-piece p, for thepurpose of allowing the lid to fall clear away from the body of thepouch, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth. v

4. In combination with the adjustable vpartitions c c c of a mail-pouch,a compressor, f g, for the purpose of securely keeping the lettersvbetween the said partitions, substantially as described.

MARsHALL SMITH. lL. s]

